Madison County commissioners shot down a proposed ordinance Monday night that would have outlawed the discharge of a firearm within 300 feet of a residence in the county.

The commissioners’ decision drew enthusiastic applause from a large crowd that packed the Madison County Superior Courtroom to voice their dismay with the proposal. A number of hunters wore camouflage to the meeting. Others sported stickers with a red line running through “gun control.”

“Look at this room and that should answer all the questions you have about how Madison County residents feel about this ordinance,” said Phil Booth, who opposed the proposal.

George Nale stood at the podium Monday night and ripped the proposed ordinance in half, then walked to the commissioners’ table and placed the torn paper in front of District 3 Commissioner Mike Youngblood.

Youngblood opened the discussion Monday, saying he was approached by residents in his district who say they are disturbed by people firing guns in subdivisions in the Hull area.

The commissioner said he wanted to bring up the issue at a meeting and seek public input on how to keep people from firing guns in heavily populated areas. He assured the crowd that he has no interest in doing away with basic gun rights.

“There’s no truth to this (the proposed ordinance) doing away with deer hunting in the county,” said Youngblood. “There’s no truth to this taking everyone’s guns.”

Harry Carter, a long-time Madison County ranger, said the ordinance is a bad idea.

“You can’t legislate common sense,” said Carter. “And that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Carter said the ordinance would needlessly affect many other gun-owning residents in the county, not just those targeted.

Eleven people took the podium to speak against the proposal Monday. No one spoke in favor of the ordinance. Many opponents said that gun laws already on the books can be used to address people who recklessly discharge firearms around others.

Harrison-area resident Marion Cartwright said that hunters are among the best citizens around.

“People who like to hunt and fish don’t cause many problems,” said Cartwright.

Opponents said that a 300-foot requirement would eliminate hunting on many small tracts in the county. They said that many people allow hunting on their land with the understanding that people will take personal responsibility for their gun use.

“This (the ordinance) would turn out to be nothing but harassment,” said Barry Venable.

Commissioner Stanley Thomas spoke out against the ordinance.

“I’d rather have someone with their back to my house shooting away rather than someone 300 feet away shooting toward it,” said Thomas.

Thomas said he had been on the phone all day with people opposed to the ordinance. He said he felt that a lot of anxiety from people in the room may not be due to local decision makers, but federal ones.

“I think a lot of people in here are concerned about what’s going to happen with gun rights, not from Madison County but from Washington D.C.,” said Thomas.

Youngblood thanked the crowd for attending the meeting, adding that he feels the county would be better off if the BOC had that kind of turnout at every meeting.

Commissioner Bruce Scogin closed the discussion with some humor about the issue.

“My concern (about the ordinance) is that in case my wife shoots me, I want there to be one less charge,” said Scogin, drawing laughs from the crowd.

Hmmm...no one spoke in favor of the ordinance. So, exactly who were those constituents you claim called for this erosion of our rights, Mr. Youngblood? Seems if they actually existed, they would have shown up for the meeting.

Enjoy your time on the BOC, Mr. Youngblood, because you won't be elected to another term. You will definitely have opposition, and we will make sure to remind everyone what you tried to do here. We will not forget!

Mike Youngblood is also the reason we have so-called "animal control" in this county. It's nice that he tries to represent his urban-minded constituents, who are largely a bedroom community to Athens, but I would rather he help them adapt to life in a rural county. The money and time that has been wasted on subdivision dwellers complaining about stray dogs and cats is a disgrace. Country people take strays in and either find them a home or take them to the animal shelter, instead of expecting someone with a uniform to show up and deal with the problem. And if the problem is a rabid raccoon, most of us know how to shoot. Our tax dollars are paying for an expensive service we don't need.

Debra, didn't all the commissioners vote for Animal Control? One board member doesn't say he wants something and it magically is done. They all or a majority have to vote yes. I live in the "bedroom community" that is district three. I'm as rural minded as anyone, but shooting a gun from my house means possibly striking collateral objects. I'm sorry that my subdivision dwelling self is not good enough to live in your county, even though I've lived here since birth 26 years ago.

We dwellers to Athens are so sorry we are making your life so uncomfortable. not.

One commissioner was voted off the commission for primarily for one reason - he helped start this "animal control" mess that has been a trainwreck from the beginning. Now that we dumped him, his replacement will hopefully learn from his mistakes and animal control will be done away with.

The housing crisis and rising fuel costs have made living in Madison County to commute to Athens / Atlanta a foolish proposition. Many residents have been foreclosed upon, and many more are moving closer to where they work. This trend will continue in the decades to come. With this slowing growth, there is no need for animal control now or in the future as this county will remain rural, poor and agricultural.

EMS is suffering financially while we waste money on dogs and cats. Should the rampant growth in Madison County ever return, we can revisit animal control at that time. Right now, I know several builders who are facing bankruptcy as subdivisions are abandoned and new housing sits vacant months and even years after construction is finished.

We need to return to sustainable living. That means if you work in Athens or Atlanta, you simply will not be able to afford to live out here in the country and interfere with the lives of farmers. It also means the need for animal control is nonexistent. Factor in that animal control has been a dismal failed experiment in govt. trying to get involved in every aspect of people's lives and it is clear to everyone except a couple of bitter, sour-grape commissioners that animal control needs to go. Especially since it is resulting in higher taxes, which is forcing people into foreclosure. We have to make cuts. Animal Control is obviously one service that can be cut.

BTW, seems most of the citizens who are serving on the animal control board are in favor of eliminating animal control. And a majority of citizens in the county favor eliminating animal control. Isn't that enough?

Let's revisit this issue when the bad egg commissioner is gone and we have a new county commissioner as well. And let's consult the animal control board. That's why they exist. To provide advice. And most of them seem to favor putting an end to this foolish waste of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars.

Do you live in district three? I'm sure you don't. I live in a subdivision in Dist. 3 and Mike is doing right by his folks in his district. You don't live in this district and you think the entire county should follow your thoughts and lifestyle. Mike has been nothing but good and fair to those he represents. If you don't like it let your commissioner know.

Well, that makes one person in favor. Did everyone else in favor just happen to "miss the meeting" also? Mike Youngblood is the main moron on our commission.

There were no supporters of this. If there had been, there would have been people speaking in favor of it at the meeting. Youngblood lied and made up that people asked him to introduce this. I guarantee if someone asked him to introduce it, they would have been there to speak. Otherwise, Youngblood should have voluntarily rescinded the motion of the people asking for it can't even take the time to show up to speak and waste the time and tax dollars of all the rest of the citizens of Madison County. Youngblood lied.

I only see normal looking people in the picture. No one looks particularly angry to me. Rural sportsman does not equal stupid redneck. Profiling people is wrong - even when those people are rural, middle-class and white.

I am sure that Mr Youngblood was only doing what someone in his district had ask to bring up. With that said perhaps the person who had an issue with guns should move back to Clarke County. I think it's a great place for the liberal minded folks. Come to think of it, not a bad place for socialist goverment either...Madison County love or leave it.

To save this county some money. Not eliminate the Rec Dept., just make sure that the people who USE the Rec. Dept. are the ONLY one's paying for it. Why should the rest of us subsidize a professional playground?

Anyway, my reason why isn't the issue. Someone stated that Youngblood brought up the gun ordinance because "someone in his district had asked to bring it up." Well, I asked him to bring up eliminating taxpayers subsidizing the Rec. park - Why didn't he bring it up?

Answer: You don't bring up legislation because "someone" asks you to. Youngblood wasted a lot of people's time and money cowtowing to "someone."

A big thanks to the citizens and other commissioners for putting him back in his place!

Because that is a waste of tax payer money!!!!!!!!!Just like animal control !!!!!!!!
In a time when the county is cutting everything in the world to make the budget balance this is things that need to go until times change, Just like the salaries of the employees in the commissioners office that would save the county ALOT of money!!!!!!

let me start with mike. half you people out there do not live in his district. and i do, i think maybe you should look at this district and the county too. let me ask you what you would think if youre kids where playing where someone was shooting, JUST 300 FEET away? i have guns i hunt,but that is deadly and if you can't see that, you have no reason to have a gun!!!!!!!!!! there is alot of dumn people out there give them a gun, but you best look after youre kids!!!!!!!!

people in this county like to point fingure. yet they never staind for anything why? maybe mike was not clear i understaind,but this man does more for this county and district. mike risks his live rite along with a few more good men and they can't find enough of them. for you that don't know him he is a very big part of the emg service in this town and i will put mike youngblood up aginst anyone any day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should comment more often, Mike. It's good for your self-esteem. Maybe if you vent here more often you won't introduce and support stupid lifestyle ordinances like dog catchers and gun restrictions while Madison County goes broke, our taxes go up, our budget is mismanaged, and everyone and his brother is walking right past your nose stealing our money! In other words, Mike, do your job and stop trying to micromanage how people live in a POOR RURAL COUNTY.

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